Help with Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium

[DavidR]

I have been given a phalaenopsis and a dendrobium.

1 - The Phalaenopsis is in a pot but most of the roots that seem alive are on top and it seems to have no roots in the soil or whatever it is in. It has new leaves, how do I repot it?

2 - The Dendrobium I put outside in the shade but it has lost all but one leaf. I watered it once a week and the temperature is 40-70. Did it get too much water or light or what? This is not the first one that i killed like this!

THANKS

David

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

It would help to know if the Den is a Phalaenopsis type, stiff leathery leaves and blooms with sprays out the top of the plant, or the nobile type, with floppy leaves and blooms on short stems coming out the side of the canes, spread out up and down it. Most Dens will loose some leaves this time of year, and some will loose all of them. If the Den has a name, that would help. I'll leave the repotting of the Phal to others that grow them.

[jerrymeola]

I am reluctant to advise new hobbyist to re-pot anything too quickly. A good grower (and most are very competent) will not sell a plant unless it can go a year or more in the medium in which it is planted. We realize most people want to buy a plant to enjoy not a project in the making.

The Phal sounds OK. Air roots are very common. Keep in mind that they were watered regularly in a greenhouse where those air roots were sprayed with the automatic watering systems. In your home you will be reluctant to spray water over your furniture. I would water in a sink and get those air roots wet. you will see them darken and turn green when absorbing water.

The Den is in shock from moving. It is also winter and they lose leaves before the spring growing season.

Both sound like most of mine look just now.

[DavidR]

Thanks to both of you. The phal is about to fall out of the pot as it seems to be leaning a lot.

[maoandmee]

Hi David,

A couple of months ago I also received a Dendrobium Phalaenopsis and when I first brought it home it too lost almost all its leaves. Freaked me out. But once I found its "happy place" by the window, it's beginning to grow in height and new little leaves are starting.

I'm sure your Den will settle down too. Good luck & welcome to orchidgeeks.

[mayres]

As many dendrobiums get rather tall it is indeed a challenge to keep them from falling over. Some suggestions include putting a layer of rocks in the bottom of the pot when you repot or place your current plastic pot (if it is indeed plastic) in a heavy ceramic pot or even clay pot for display.

[jerrymeola]

David

In the wild Phals grow down not up. So your plant leaning is just a normal growth pattern. Left to itself it will eventually grow straight down.

You can remove the plant straighten it and refill the potting mix to get it straight again. If you do be careful as Phal roots are thick and brittle. If you bend them too far they crack. Cracks are a possible source of rot, but Phals are strong plants and usually take re-potting easily.

[Maddy]

Some phals just lean more than others - my fuschia one that's about to bloom (sorry, no name tag - it's a Lowe's rescue ) grows just enough to one side that I have to keep the pot sitting in a much heavier cachepot to keep it from toppling over. Meanwhile, I have three others that grow straight up.

[Tress-Anne]

That is so very true as I find the very same thing with my phal too. I have only "one " single (hard to come by when you live in the caribbean) plant and it is doing well but it tends to just be happy leaning down no matter what I do. I I got it in February in bloom and it has not yet bloomed again but I think it is getting accustommed to its new envioronment as it came from else where in the usa. But as usual I am giving it lots of love and attention and i wait patiently on it to bloom.
Tress-Anne in the caribbean

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by maoandmee

....I also received a Dendrobium Phalaenopsis ...

Do you mean Dendrobium phalaenopsis, the species or a Phalaenopsis-type hybrid? There's no orchid by the name Dendrobium Phalaenopsis.